| More and more colleges, universities, community colleges and technical schools are planning and shaping their curriculum to include “green” degree opportunities for their students. Up until recently there has not been much interest by students in this field. But change is on the horizon.
A combination of economically enticed shifts in our economy and a world that has grown smaller has brought about an increased interest going green. Rising oil prices and a stronger concern for the limitations of our oil supplies has made developing alternative energy a more viable option. Greenhouse gases, conservation and other issues have come to the fore.
Venture capital has begun to funnel in to the pursuit of these interests and industries are emerging to actively develop alternative energy. At the same time the older, more traditional industries, where college graduates used to seek employment opportunities, are no longer available. The economic slump continues to take its toll on many market sectors. Jobs in the green industry are growing rapidly.
Establishing a green degree program in a college or university takes time. Right now, the demand for graduates with a green degree far outpaces the number of graduates that have them, just as the number of green jobs outpaces those who are trained to fill them. The schools are beginning to understand this and are working diligently to provide such programs.
Green degree programs are popping up across the country. Students who are interested in solar energy, wind technology or conservation may find that pursuing a degree in this area will find land them a job more quickly than those who follow other paths. Jobs are not only more readily available but the pay is higher as well. Those who jump on this band wagon now, at the beginning of this socio-economic change, will be the ones who benefit the most.
If you are passionate about the environment and want to learn about conservation, global warming, renewable energy resources and more, a green degree may be an excellent option. There are so many different aspects of this industry and a variety of skills are needed. Technicians, computer specialists, engineers, business professionals and other specialties are needed to run such businesses.
If you already have a college degree, there are a variety of certificate programs that are also available that provide green training to help you move into this field. There is no need to start over completely as it is easy to specialize and add to your base degree with the special knowledge for the particular aspect of the green industry you wish to pursue.
At this particular time it may be difficult to find a campus nearby that offers a green degree program but, if you are willing to travel, they are available throughout the country. Inquire at a local college and see if they have a green degree program in progress. Ask them when they expect to have it up and running. Just because their web site doesn’t make mention of a green program, doesn’t mean they don’t have one in the works.
A green degree certificate will open doors for those who take the initiative in training for the industry that will pave the way to economic recovery in the coming years. |
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